Catholics
Comments
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Penny sending prayers.
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Same from here, Penny.
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penny Praying! sas
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Hi Penny,
have been praying for you every night. God is good indeed. XXX Susanna
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Thanks so much everyone. It's the waiting for the results that's such a bummer. I sometimes wish I could be put into a deep sleep until "the call". LOL.
Penny0 -
Penny i'm sorry, that's one thing I have been blessed with is extreme patience for the results--it never bothers me to wait and I don't know why-I had a test yesterday and she started saying how long and I mmediately said what difference does it make u'll call when u call. And I feel lucky that I really have always felt this day-- just figure what am I goin to do with worry. I know i sound silly, but i just am weird.
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Hello
You may remember that I was to start on a drug trial. Remember my biopsy sample was flown to USA. Apparently there are 75 of us across Europe on this trial and everyone's biopsy samples went to the same lab to ensure consistency of testing - don't know why they picked a lab in USA. Then every clinic taking part - I am Ireland's sole representative, don't know why there aren't more - was given a new ECG machine along with a new heart monitor each the same make again to ensure consistency throughout the trial. There in lies a tale. The start took on a life of its own and after several false starts we got started on the 7th March. On day one I spent from 9 00am till after 10 30pm that night in the clinic. I was on a heart monitor continuously for 8 hours printing out every 20minutes with blood samples and an ECG every 2 hours. Afterwards the consultant Onc said " There is nothing wrong with your heart because I had to sign every one of the printouts ! ! !
Then I didn't take the tablets again till day 8 (thats the way the trial is set up) and have been taking them every day since. Between days 1 and 8 I had to return to the clinic several times for more tests. Then the visits are once per week. You will appreciate that it being a trial of a new drug participants are very closely monitored. The trial goes in 28 day cycles and this cycle (one) ends next week. I have a SE, the dreaded big D, however it is not too bad and is neither causing the Onc or myself too much grievance. However he said that if it didn't improve he would change the anti D medicine. Apart from that I am having no other SEs.
This will be of interest to those of you who are Her2+. This drug is apparently more potent than Herceptin and suppresses not only Her2+ but also another epidermal growth factor. At the end of cycle 2 I will get another CT Scan along with another biopsy so we will know how good or otherwise that the drug is working.
So may I ask for your prayers that it is working and that the drug will be successful and make its way eventually into pharmacies.
I will keep you posted on any further developments.
Take care all
Frank0 -
God Bless Frank, will certainly pray for you.
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Susana
How's the weather in your part of the world? As you have probably seen on the news parts of the North are suffering from absolutely freak weather conditions with some huge and I mean huge snow drifts ! ! ! We only lost our power for a few minutes last Friday night but some people were without electricity for days, snowed in with no access to buying food. Apparently a massive number of sheep and lambs have died because of the weather.
I'm sure you have heard of professor John Crown famous Irish Onc. I met him and Dr Denis Slamon, who was very instrumental in developing Herceptin. I met them at a meeting in a hotel in Dublin a few years ago. Was chatting to Dr Slamom after the meeting then the next morning as we were both staying in the same hotel in Dublin.
Hope all is well with you.
Frank0 -
Hi Frank,
snow showers here a plenty but nothing is sticking on the ground, so we are lucky by comparison with Ulster, and with UK too. Prof. Crown is my oncologist. He has a reputation as the top man in BC oncology in Ireland. I'll be seeing him again on April 15th. I like him and trust him. He will probably be visible on radio or TV before I see him in person because he seems to be on a lot commenting on public health and cancer issues, he is very passionate about delivering a better public health care system.
Very best wishes, Susanna
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Prayers for you Frank!
- Penny
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More prayers Frank coming u'r way.
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Just found out the liver mets increased in size and number. Starting TDM1 on Wednesday. Have a Blessed Easter, everyone.
- Penny
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Continued prayers for you, Frank and thanks for the Her2 positive information.
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Penny, continued prayers for you and I'm sorry to hear about the test results. Praying that TDMI1 is a winner for you!
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Penny I'm sorry---prayers are still coming u'r way.
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Penny, sorry about the news, continuing to keep you in my prayers. Pax sheila
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Dear Penny,
Happy Easter to you and your loved ones also. YOU are not this disease or this result. Continued prayers for God to bless you. Love Susanna
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Hello
Penny very sorry to hear of the increase in your liver mets. I had hoped for you that the radio frequency ablation would have stemmed their growth but hopefully this new regime will work for you.
Susanna whilst it is unfortunate that you have BC at least you are fortunate that your Onc is someone as prominent in the field on Oncology as Prof John Crown.
LeeA I thought you might be interested to know about the connection between this trial drug and the Her2+ growth factor. Actually I think that the drug is specifically aimed at and only people who are Her2+
I made a slight mistake in my last posting. I have another biopsy scheduled for next Thursday and again the sample will be sent off to the lab on the other side of the big pond. So all you sisters over there give my wee bits of liver tumour a big hug and and a welcome LOL.
Number 2 princess came home last night and number 1 princess is on her way home now so will have both home for the weekend. So looking forward to a family weekend and going out for lunch on Sunday as a family.
Number 2 princess is a dietician. I mentioned above that I am having a SE with this drug i.e. a touch of the big D and hence some weight loss. So for this weekend I have my own private dietician on call to advise on what foods I should and should not be eating LOL
A happy and blessed Easter to you all and it goes without saying that I will be saying a pray for you all.
Frank
PS Forgot to mention I am the lay reader at 10 30am mass on Sunday so I am pleased to be reading on such a special Sunday.0 -
Frank I'm happy u'll be with family and a good dietician too. It is an honor to be reading on East, I'm very happy for u.
I hope everyone has a peaceful Good Friday and Holy Saturday and a Wonderful Easter.
Penny, still sending prayers
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Great pictures from around the world as Good Friday is observed
A very happy and Blessed Easter to everyone.
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Frank, I pray that the trial will be a success. Penny, I will continue to pray for you.
Just back from Good Friday services. It is a beautiful afternoon here and I feel that spring may finally be on its way, despite the 2-3 foot snow banks that are still on the side of every road. Tonight my daughter and I are going with my mother-in-law to see a dramatic musical presentation of The Passion at a Baptist church in our area. It is getting rave reviews so I am really looking forward to it.
I wish Easter blessings to everyone here.
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Blessings to all for this Holy time. sheila
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Blessings and prayers for you all!
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'This is Easter Day. Let us say this again and again to ourselves with fear and great joy...It is a Day which has made us greater than we know...We have had enough of weariness, and dreariness, and listlessness, and sorrow, and remorse...Calm and serene days have begun; and Christ is heard in them, and His “still small voice” (1Kgs 19,12), because the world speaks not...May we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, season after season, year after year, till He takes us to Himself... into the kingdom of His Father and our Father, His God and our God (Jn 20,17).' - Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)0 -
Penny, such beautiful words from Cardinal Newman, a man who truly grew "in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, season after season, year after year". When He takes us to Himself may God grant that the same be true for us. Cancer certainly presents many opportunities to put my hand in the hand of the man from Galilee. God is GOOD.
Sure would like to be able to say as Saint Paul did, in his very last letter, just before his martyrdom:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". Timothy 4:7
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"More than 20 tumors" in the liver! What the heck did I go through all these months of chemo and an ablation for? Even the ablated area is growing again! I'm so angry! I also feel hopeless. Why bother? This is ridiculous!
I've been praying so hard to decide what to do about work. I just couldn't give it up even though going gave me anxiety. I'm just too hooked on the income. I kind of always thought in my head that the day I have major progression will be the day I definitely retire/quit/go out on disability. So this is it! My husband has been telling me it will be ok, God ALWAYS provides for us, so I've already warned the kids. We're officially low-income. Go get jobs! LOL.
- Penny
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Penny, so sorry to hear of your agonising. Maybe the decision really has been taken out of your hands here? Your husband sounds very loving. Keeping you in my prayers big time. XXX
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Oh, Penny!
I'm praying hard for you!
Just had a similar talk with my husband last night.(I was having a personal pity party...surgery this Thursday and just tired of being tired.) Weighing the stress of working against the stress of a reduced income is not easy.0 -
Saying prayers for you right now, Penny.
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Someone sent me two little daily prayer books and they have been so helpful. Both are by a woman named Sarah Young. One is called Jesus Calling and the other one is Jesus Today.
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Thank You, Lord, for today's treatment. Please bless it and use it for Your Truth & Healing in me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
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